Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, will present his Youth Awards for Excellence to several outstanding young Jamaicans, in recognition of their contribution to national development, on Saturday, November 24.
The ceremony will be held on the lawns of Jamaica House, beginning at 5:00 p.m. A total of 142 young persons were nominated for the coveted awards, with 54 being shortlisted in the categories of: Academics, Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Protection, Innovation in Science and Technology, International Achievement, Journalism, Leadership, Nation Builder, Sports and Youth Development.
The Nation Builder category, which was added this year, will recognise youth who have dedicated unwavering service to volunteerism and the development of communities.
Shortlisted nominees in the category of Sport and International Achievement include Olympic Gold Medalist, Omar McLeod; Reggae Girl, Kadijah Shaw; National Discus Thrower, Frederick Dacres; International model, Tami Williams; and former Miss Jamaica Universe, Davina Bennett.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence (PMYAE) Secretariat, Warren Newby, told JIS News that the awards are very important to celebrate youth, and have been used across Administrations to indicate to young people what excellence is and to highlight the diverse areas that will advance national development.
“All those who were nominated, along with the ones who are shortlisted, I say, you all are already winners, irrespective of what happens on the day. Your exemplary service, conduct and effort have placed you into the elite of Jamaica youth and we celebrate all of you for it,” he said.
The PMYAE forms part of Youth Month 2018 celebrations, which is observed under the theme ‘Level Up’.
The Prime Minister National Youth Awards for Excellence was introduced in 1998 to recognise young Jamaicans who have excelled and contributed to national development.
Since its inception, 224 awards have been conferred on individuals in the fields of Academics, Sport, Arts and Culture, Environmental Protection, and Journalism.
It is open to all Jamaican nationals between 15 and 29 years old who are living in Jamaica and the diaspora, who have attained excellence and world-class achievement.
Jamaica Information Service